Update: Healthy Soils Program Incentive Grant; New Practices
The Healthy Soils Program, a funding opportunity through the California Department of Food and Agriculture, recently added three new conservation practices. In future incentive program solicitations, eligible farmers and ranchers will be able to apply for biochar application, prescribed indigenous burning, and re-saturating delta peat soils through rice cultivation. The table below describes these new practices and considerations for each:
Practice | Description | Other Information |
| Biochar Application | Heating biomass (Wood chips, plant residues, manure, etc.) to high temperatures (350°C) in a low oxygen environment to prevent combustion results in a black carbon soil amendment that is used to sequester carbon and improve soil health. | CDFA will require biochar to be of a certain quality, a specific implementation method will be followed (Likely biochar and compost will be applied together), and only certain soil types will be allowed to apply biochar. The funding requested will cover the cost of the biochar and spreading the soil amendment. |
| Prescribed Indigenous Burning | Intentionally starting small, controlled fires to tribal lands for desired cultural services, and to promote biodiversity and reduce wildfire hazards. | This practice is expected to increase soil organic matter, moisture retention, and reduce bulk density. Additionally, pest control and increasing productivity and growth of culturally important plants. A prescribed indigenous burning plan will be required, along with a burning permit. Timing of implementation will be required and it can only be done by qualified individuals. |
| Re-Saturating Delta Peat Soils Through Rice Cultivation | This practice will convert land withing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region that is currently used for annual, non-rice agriculture to rice-only cultivation. | This practice stops the oxidation of organic matter, which slows and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Only a specific region of California will be eligible to apply for this practice. Implementation standards are being developed as well as determining the payment scenario for this crop conversion. |
If you are interested in applying for the Healthy Soils Program when the next solicitation opens, visit the Healthy Soils Program webpage for more information or reach out to your local Community Education Specialist from the Climate Smart Agriculture Program.
References:
CDFA Recommendations on 2024 Healthy Soils New Practice Proposals